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Can Carlos Leal's UFC debut upset Rinat Fakhretdinov's undefeated streak in Abu Dhabi?

UFC 308 is a great card in a year that has had no shortage of iconic cards and this culmination of MMA action will cement 2024 as one of the best in company history. Some of them for their novelty at the very least, if not necessarily the quality of fights on them. But it doesn’t really get any better when a card is headlined by a featherweight title clash between champ Ilia Topuria and the legendary Max Holloway, along with a co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.

However, the Abu Dhabi card has seen a major shakeup. This has come into action as UFC welterweight Rinat Fakhretdinov has a new opponent. The unranked UFC welterweight is one of the most promising up-and-coming prospects in the division and is undefeated in his five fights in the UFC so far. He was set to face unranked Uzbek native Nursulton Ruziboev on the prelims card, but it seems the latter had to pull out for unknown reasons.

Now, however, Dana White and co. have decided that Fakhretdinov will fight Carlos Leal, who will make his UFC debut on the Abu Dhabi card. The latter has been a regular fixture of the MMA circuit, holding a 21-5-0 record and having fought regularly in the PFL, LFA, and UAE Warriors promotions over the past couple of years.

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Of course, this is not a development Fakhretidnov will be a big fan of. After all, he must have been hoping for a top unranked guy to replace the Uzbek, since a win over a debutant is unlikely to do much for his standing in the division. But it also gives the Russian a chance to make a statement by possibly finishing Leal, and finishing him quickly. But at least Fakhretidnov is still fighting on the card, unlike a few of the other stars fans were hoping to see on the card.

Dana White was forced to pull the Gane vs. Volkov and Makhachev title clash from UFC 308

What’s your perspective on:

Can Carlos Leal's UFC debut upset Rinat Fakhretdinov's undefeated streak in Abu Dhabi?

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The UFC, of course, puts on a PPV card in Abu Dhabi every October which features the biggest Muslim fighters in the promotion. This is why Islam Makhachev was originally slated to headline the card, but a hand injury has caused him to refuse a booking on the UAE card.

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However, fans need not despair since the main card is chock full of his fellow Dagestanis, who will showcase the style of fighting the Russian province is well-known for. However, there is one fight the fans will definitely miss. Top-ranked heavyweights Alexander Volkov and Ciryl Gane were set to open the main card of UFC 308. This bout was scrapped when Volkov incurred an injury and was forced to drop out of the fight.

A heavyweight clash, of course, is always exciting for fans because of the potential of knockouts, let alone one between fighters of ‘Drago’ and ‘Bon Gamin’s caliber. However, an injury suffered by Volkov has forced the UFC to reschedule their clash to UFC 310, robbing the UFC 308 card (and fans) of a cracking matchup. What are your thoughts on Rinat Fakhretidinov’s new opponent for UFC 308? And what are your predictions for UFC 308?

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